Corporate espionage is a threat to any business whose long-term strategy depends on proprietary ideas or information. Pursued data – including client lists, supplier agreements, personnel records, research documents, or prototype plans for a new product or service – could be of great financial benefit to the discerning individual or competitor, while having a devastating financial effect on the company. Today, theft of trade secrets is estimated to cost companies $100 billion per year, with up to 85% of corporate espionage crimes committed by employees, who use stolen information to perpetrate scams, credit card fraud, blackmail, extortion or other criminal behavior against the company or the people who work there.
What You Can Do
Because corporate espionage is generally considered a crime of opportunity, its prevention depends on how well one can dry up that opportunity. According to some statistical studies, almost 75% of information theft occurs through physical acts, like dumpster diving, rather than hacking around the electronic domain. Thus, the security of printed materials is a key ingredient to preventing a company, or its resources from being exploited. Comprehensive print protection depends on the utilization of a number of security techniques that help ensure document originality and information authenticity.
Print Policy Enforcement
The simplest and most effective way to prevent the exploitation of printed material is to not print sensitive personal information when unnecessary. Changes in or awareness of corporate policy and government regulations will help reduce your volume of print.
Physical Security
Securing documents physically is another easy means to prevent corporate espionage threats. Lockable file cabinets, safes and other storage units can keep printed material protected when not in use.
Secure Disposal (Shredding)
Shredding is an indispensable part of any print security plan, but is not sufficient by itself. While the safe disposal of sensitive documents is a fundamental precaution, these documents must be safeguarded from fraudulent use while out in an unprotected environment.
Electronic Deterrents
Because of the vast attention paid to security in the electronic realm, online forms and documents are generally more secure than their printed counterparts. However, in cases where documents must be printed, other technology must be employed to eliminate the possibility of tampering.
Copy-Proof Technology
Copiers are omnipresent in the modern business environment, and serve as easily accessible tools for corporate espionage. Technology that prevents the duplication of sensitive information should be considered a requirement.
Enterprise Rights Management
Securing documents via electronic access controls that can define who may access and print specific documents is a key component of a comprehensive approach to information risk management, and can be a great help in reducing overall levels of enterprise risk.
Print Encryption
In order to safely print documents and simultaneously protect the information within them, print encryption is ideal. By hiding sensitive information within scrambled print fields, only those with authority to use the information can view it.
How We Help
Utilizing AuthentiGuard On-Demand is the best opportunity for businesses to close the vulnerabilities that lead to corporate espionage. By securing documents and encrypting their contents, AuthentiGuard goes beyond traditional methods of print security to provide ubiquitous protection against duplication or misuse. Aside from copy-proofing, the technology can also embed watermarks within the document or hide specific, sensitive information within encryption patterns, thereby undermining the venues that corporate thieves routinely exploit; while still allowing access to intended constituents. AuthentiGuard On-Demand is the foundational security layer that businesses need to help achieve compliance and eliminate the risks of corporate espionage.